Una Familia de Jalisco: Building ‘Fiesta Mexicana,’ Restaurant Empire

By Editor March 8, 2016 09:36

By: Brian Garrido

After immigrating to the United States, Jalisco-born Patricia and Martin Rangel created Fiesta Mexicana, a growing restaurant empire in Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. With eight restaurants in operation and four sold as franchises, the couple and their five children are the embodiment of the American dream. Currently, they have four restaurants in Arizona: Avondale, Page, Lake Havasu and the year-old Chandler location. Each restaurant employs twenty individuals, and there are approximately 135 people in the total company comprising of wait staff, chefs, and mixologists.

Patricia and Martin Rangel, Owners and Founders of Fiesta Mexicana

Before Fiesta Mexicana, the enterprising couple already had a house, five children, a grocery store, and an automobile shop in a small Washington state town for several years. But In 1999, the Rangels were asked to invest in a restaurant business with Patricia’s brother, and their fortunes changed. Patricia says, “We both thought it was a good idea. After a few weeks of searching for a good location in Colorado, we located a building in the beautiful little town of Woodlawn Park, about 22 miles from Colorado Springs. We opened the first Fiesta Mexicana restaurant on July 4, 2000.”

Using a few traditional family recipes from their town of Jalisco – also the birthplace of mariachi music, tequila, and other typical Mexican dishes such as pozole and birria (stewed goat) – the Rangels used TexMex influences to create Fiesta Mexicana. Diners will find hearty portions of enchiladas, burritos, and nachos (as well as some giant margaritas) in a family-friendly atmosphere.

The genial atmosphere in all the restaurants charms patrons with the decorative arts of Jalisco. With brightly-colored naranja walls, the Chandler location is especialmente partido como con musicas de Marc Anthony, Elvis Crespo, y Celia Cruz. The beautiful wood-relief chairs and booths are all hand-painted and carved dominate the massive restaurant and showcase Mexican life.

The Rangels still have family in Mexico, but their familia en Jalisco know that pursuing work in the United States wasn’t easy. Rangel continued, “We have learned in life that nothing is easy or free. There is always a price to pay especially if you come from the bottom. But we worked hard to build our reputation, the trust of the community and our workers.”

Overseeing the restaurants are two of the Rangel’s sons Edwin, 25, and Kevin, 21. The others are pursuing careers outside the restaurant industry: one is a lawyer, the eldest is in construction, and the youngest will be entering Stanford’s freshman class.

Brothers Kevin (L) and Edwin (R) have decided to stay in the business with their parents.

“We are very proud of all our kids. Right now, Edwin and Kevin are running them and they are learning a lot,” Rangel says.

The Rangels already have plans to expand into California in the coming year with Fiesta Mexicana, with the first location in the Golden State to be in Riverside County. Rangel says, “We plan to continue with our efforts to make even Fiesta Mexicana greater!”

To learn more about Fiesta Mexicana, and to find a location near you, please visit their official website here.